Cannes may not spring to mind when seeking a restorative retreat, walks among ancient forests or a spot of bird-watching. But a 15-minute ferry ride from the splashy Riviera resort drops you at the tranquil Îles de Lérins, twin emerald islands in France where all the pleasures of the great outdoors await.

Los Angeles may be most famous for Hollywood, but it is also a mecca for modern architecture and an ideal destination to explore the work of the legendary architects synonymous with home design from the 1920s to the 1950s.